Health officials urge residents to seek pertussis vaccine

Thursday

Jun 6, 2013 at 11:00 AM

Bent County Public Health staff are investigating two confirmed cases of whooping cough (pertussis) in an infant and adult from Bent County. Local health officials are urging Bent County residents to seek pertussis vaccination, especially in light of the state’s current outbreak.

Bent County Public Health staff are investigating two confirmed cases of whooping cough (pertussis) in an infant and adult from Bent County. Local health officials are urging Bent County residents to seek pertussis vaccination, especially in light of the state’s current outbreak.

“The best defense against pertussis continues to be vaccination,” said Kaysie Schmidt, executive director of Bent County Public Health. “We recommend all Bent County residents check their vaccination status and schedule a visit to their healthcare provider if they have not yet been immunized against pertussis.”

Reported cases of pertussis nationwide are at the highest level in 50 years. In 2013, there were 1,505 reported cases of pertussis in Colorado – the highest in 64 years. As of May 11, there have been 517 reported cases of pertussis in Colorado this year. Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease affecting the respiratory tract and is spread by coughing and sneezing, often through repeated face-to-face contact.The pertussis vaccine is given in combination with diphtheria and tetanus vaccines, called DTaP, and is recommended for children age two months through six years old. A pertussis vaccine for adolescents and adults, called Tdap, is recommended as a one-time booster. Those who do develop whooping cough despite being vaccinated experience milder symptoms and are less infectious. Studies have shown that children not vaccinated are 23 times more likely to get pertussis than those who are fully vaccinated.

Families with a newborn are encouraged to be immunized as a part of a process called “cocooning,” where parents, siblings, grandparents and others are vaccinated to provide additional protection to the newborn, who cannot be vaccinated until they are two months old. Even at that age infants still lack adequate protection. Newborns with pertussis can?experience severe complications, even death. More than half of infected infants require hospitalization. It is also recommended that pregnant women receive a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy between weeks 27 and 36 to benefit mother and baby. When a mom-to-be is vaccinated, she passes disease-fighting antibodies on to her baby to help protect him or her after birth.

Pertussis can begin like a cold in infants and young children, with a low grade fever and a mild, irritating cough that can appear within seven to 20 days after exposure. The illness progresses to include explosive coughing that can interrupt breathing, eating and sleeping, and may be followed by vomiting and exhaustion. Individuals with symptoms should contact their healthcare provider about antibiotic treatment that can shorten the time when they are contagious. Those with pertussis should be isolated from school, work or other activities until completing at least the first five days of the recommended antibiotic therapy.

For more information about pertussis and vaccination recommendations, call Bent County Public Health at 456-0517.